Solstar Space (Solstar) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) have announced that Solstar will provide the Wireless Access Points that will be used on NASA’s Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module planned for launch in 2024.
Credits: NASA
Solstar is providing a mission critical component of the HALO module. Providing reliable connectivity for NASA’s crew and the devices used aboard HALO is essential to the safety and success of this first module of the Lunar Gateway. Solstar has spaceflight-proven communications technologies that have been demonstrated on three previous launches on Blue Origin New Shepard and UP Aerospace spaceflights.
Solstar is working in partnership with proven industry-leading partners that include Aitech Defense Systems and Mango Communications.
“Persistent connectivity is crucial for space-based operations. The Solstar wireless access point will be mounted inside the HALO module and will be smaller than a laptop. It will provide a WiFi network for connectivity that will support astronaut communications with ground control, the lunar surface, and spacecraft, while also supporting payload integration, experiments, and more. It will securely connect Wi-Fi-enabled components including computers and IoT sensors, creating a collection of space-based networked devices,” says Mark Matossian, Co-Founder, Solstar Space Company. “Future space-hardened units could be developed for surface of the moon operations, and used on rovers and habitation units.”